Henry Daniel Swift

Henry became a conscientious objector to the Civil War and was saved from execution by pardon.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/124521481/henry-daniel-swift

Falmouth Enterprise, Saturday, March 04, 1916; Page: 7

DEATH OF HENRY D. SWIFT

End Comes From Weakness of Heart at His Summer Home at West Falmouth.

Henry D. Swift. 16 Channing St., Worcester, mechanical superintendent of the Logan, Swift & Brigham Envelope Co. for many years up to the time of its consolidation with the United States Envelope Co., in 1898, since which time he had lived in retirement, died at his summer home, West Falmouth, his birthplace, at 2.30 o'clock Tuesday afternoon, from weakening of the heart, due to age. Mr. Swift was 82 years old in May and, with the exception of ex-Mayor James Logan, was the last survivor of the pioneer envelope manufacturers of Worcester, outliving G. Henry Whitcomb, one of the number, by 16 days.
Despite his advanced years, Mr. Swift had been active until a year ago, this having been the first winter he had passed at his summer home. It was his custom to pass the winters at his Channing-street residence, and it was kept in readiness, for him this winter, but he preferred to remain at West Falmouth rather than take any chances of the journey to Worcester. . Mr. Swift's last illness was of ten days' duration, and was the culmination of a gradual breaking down of the human system. He had the best of medical attention and care, and was made as comfortable as if he was at his Worcester home. Mrs. Swift and their son, Willard E. Swift, assistant superintendent of the Grove-street plant, were; with him as much as possible, though- at, the time of his death the son was on his way from Boston to Falmouth.
Following the last wishes of Mr. Swift the funeral and burial were held in his native town. He expressed a. wish to die there, and to be buried with his ancestors. The funeral was held at the Friends’ church, West Falmouth, Friday morning at 11 o'clock, and burial was in the Friends' burial ground. Mr. Swift was a life-long Quaker and during his many years' residence in Worcester was active in the Society of Friends, as the church denomination is known.
An incident in the life of Mr. Swift was that during the Civil War he was tried by court-martial and sentenced to be shot because of his refusal to serve in the army, claiming exception on the ground of being a Quaker, whose principles are that it is wrong, to take human life under any circumstances. He was paroled by President Abraham Lincoln and returned to his West Falmouth home.

Henry D. Swift was born at West Falmouth, May 21, 1833. He was the son of Daniel and Hepsabah Swift. His father was the mechanic of the village and ran a shop which, beside catering to the mechanical needs of the town, did an active business fitting out whaling vessels and other ships which were built at West Falmouth.

Mr. Swift's boyhood days were passed in the village with his brothers, George, Joseph and Wheeler, and his sister, Mary Abbie, all of whom are dead. His schooling was obtained entirely in the village schools, which were open only three months in the winter season, and although his opportunities for learning were very limited, he .showed early in life that rare ability which distinguished him later as a brilliant inventor.

As a mere boy he built a windmill in the fields near his home, constructed rude lathe from materials he found at hand, and this accomplished, he and his brother Wheeler set about making furniture of various kinds. These pieces of his handiwork were sold about the neighborhood.

When 15 years old, he sailed alone across Buzzards bay in a small open boat and sought the employ of Gideon Wood, a cabinet maker of New Bedford. He worked for Gideon Wood three years, learning the cabinet trade. He then returned to West Falmouth and devoted his time to caring for the place.

Mr. Swift when 21 years old went to South Dedham and entered the employ of Willard Everett, a cabinet maker. He was married to Emma Colburn Fuller, South Dedham, May 14, 1861. The next winter the cabinet mill burned, and Mr. Swift returned with his wife to West Falmouth. There with his brother, D. Wheeler, they developed the first practical clothes wringer ever constructed. Prior to this all clothes had been rung by hand.

The first ringer had wooden rolls, but it was found in practice that these warped and split so badly as to make the ringers practically useless. The Swifts with great difficulty secured a small supply of rubber, which they had made especially for this purpose. This was all that was required to ma.ke the clothes wringer a practical success. A wringer was patented in the name of D. W. Swift, Jan. 28, 1862. Mr. Swift's first son, Lucius, was born March 11, 1862. The next summer Mr. Swift moved to South Dedham, and with his brother, Wheeler, began the manufacturing of wringers on a larger scale in the top floor of George Morrill's ink mill. This mill is standing, and is a part of the present factory of the George Morrill Co. The Swift Brothers placed the sale of their wringers in the hands of a Boston agent, and as a result of his trickery, their business was wrecked. However, they had succeeded in producing the first practical wringer, and this is still manufactured in a modified form.

In the summer of 1863, while in South Dedham Mr. Swift was drafted into the army. Mrs. Swift came back to West Falmouth after Mr. Swift had gone to Concord where troops were being mobilized. Mr. Swift was a birthright member of the Society of Friends, and thoroughly believed their principles, that it was wrong; under all circumstances, to take human life.

While at Concord he was ordered to take part in military drills. This he resolutely refused to do, it being contrary to the dictates of his conscience. For this he was put into the guardhouse, but he adhered to his determination, and refrained from all military activity at Concord as well as later on, when sent to Long Island and In Boston harbor From there troops, were being constantly sent South to replenish armies in the field. While at Long Island he gladly helped in hospital services, but, however, refused all remuneration for his services. He was “bucked down" and was finally told by officers he would be shot for refusal to obey orders. He was taken from the guardhouse and made to witness an execution, and was told that would be his fate if he persisted in his insubordination, but he still remained firm. He was tried by court-martial and was sentenced to be shot. During Mr. Swift's stay at Long Island he was visited by Stephen A. Chase, Lynn, and Charles R. Tucker, New Bedford, both prominent, members of the Society of Friends. They went to Washington and stated the facts of Mr. Swift's case to President Abraham Lincoln and Secretary of war Edwin M. Stanton.

When, the matter was considered by the president he directed that an honorable parole be made out. This was done.-and delivered to, him.shortly before the time he had been informed his execution was to take place. This was in the fall of 1863, and upon his parole he at once joined his wife at West Falmouth. In the spring he went to Waltham seeking work, and from Waltham he went to Worcester, where he found work at Goodell's cabinet shop on Union street.

He sent for his wife and they boarded with Dorcas Daniels. His son Lucius died of cholera infantum Aug. 3, 1864.

Through Mr. Swift's attendance of Friends' meetings he met James Greene Arnold, a patent attorney, living on Harvard street. Mr. Arnold was developing an envelope machine for G. Henry Whitcomb, a pioneer envelope manufacturer of Worcester. Mr. Arnold suggested that Mr. Swift enter the employ .of Mr. Whitcomb to assist in the development of the envelope machine. Mr; Swift felt that this would be leaving a certainty for an uncertainty, declined to do so and sent for his brother, D. Wheeler Swift, who was still at West Falmouth and unemployed.

His brother, came, entered Mr. Whitcomb's employ, and Henry Swift followed him about a year later. The Arnold machine had to be abandoned and the Swift brothers began the development of envelope folding and printing machinery which made possible the commercial success which soon characterized the Whitcomb factory. Henry Swift in 1884, with his brother, left the employ of the Whitcombs, and in company with James Logan and John S. Brigham, started an envelope business of their, own at. 16 Union street. In undertaking this new venture, Mr. Swift felt it incumbent to develop new machinery which would ot in any way interfere with the rights already in the possession of their former employers.

This seeming difficulty proved a stepping stone to even greater success than before. The new machinery was far superior to the old, and the .new inventive efforts, coupled with the executive ability of Mr. Logan and Mr. Brigham, led to the rapid success of the new company of Logan, Swift & Brigham. The business grew until new quarters were necessary, and in 1889 a new factory was built at 75 Grove street.

When the Logan, Swift & Brigham Co. was bought by the United States Envelope Co. in 1898, Mr. Swift retired from active business life. Since then he has passed most of his time at his old home, West Falmouth. Ever since his boyhood he has been a lover of' nature and has devoted much time to the study of astronomy. He had a well-equipped astronomical observatory at West Falmouth and spent much effort in making observations. From these he made models of some of the larger luna mountains and craters, and made other charts of his work.

He was dearly loved by all who knew him, and his chief joy was in helping others to live uprightly and cherish the things worth loving. His whole life was one of- persistent righteousness, and his decease will be regretted most by those who knew him best.

Mr. Swift leaves his wife, Emma C. Swift, and his son, Willard E. Swift.